Time switch



A. MARTIN Aug. 2, 1938.

TIME SWITCH Filed NOV. 17, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet l i lllllllllll//ll/l/l INVENTOR arz'mz Mar/21? BY f-iii llll'lll Aug. 2, 1938. A- MAR-rm 2,125,733

TIME SWITCH Filed Nov. 17, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR ATTORNEY zit Patented Aug. 2, 1938 UNITED sucres Peretti caries 2 Claims.

'I'his invention relates to'new and useful improvements in a time switch.

The invention has for .an object to incorporate in a clock one or more time switches for the purpose of closing or opening, or closing and opening circuits at pre-determined intervals.

More specically, the invention contemplates to construct one time switch associated with the mechanism of the clock and capable of opening a switch at any pre-determined time as set by an indicator upon the front of the dial. A further object is to construct a switch substantially identical as set forth in vthis paragraph except to be capable of closing a circuit.

For` further comprehension of the invention, and of the objects and advantages thereof, reference will be had to the following description and accompanying drawings, and to the ap- Dended claims in which the various novel features of the invention are more particularly set forth.

In the accompanying drawings forming a material part of this disclosure:

Fig. 1 is a front elevational View of a` clock with an on `and an off switch incorporated therewith according to this invention.

Fig. 2 is a rear elevational view of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary perspective view of a portion of the mechanism of the on switch.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary sectional View taken on the line 4 4 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 4 but illustrating the oli switch.

Fig. 6 is a transverse sectional View taken on the line 6 6 of Fig. '7.

Fig. 7 is a sectional view taken von the line 'I 'l of Fig. 6.

Fig. 8 is an elevational View looking in the direction of the line 8 8 of Fig. 7.

Fig. 9 is a sectional View taken on the line 9 9 of Fig. 7.

Fig. 10 is a perspective View of a portion of Fig. 7.

The time switch clock comprises a clock ID of conventional construction having a minute hand II, an hour hand I2 and a time dial I3. Imprinted on the dial there are additional switch dials, as for example, an on switch dial I4 and an off switch dial I5. Small hands I6 and I'I respectively indicate on the small dials I4 and I5. These hands may be set from the back of the clock, as shown in Fig. 2, by turning knobs I8 and I9. Thus, the on switch may be set to one time, at which time a circuit will be turned on, and the oit switch may be set to another (Cl. D-38) time, at which time the same or other circuit may be turned olf.

The on switch includes` a switch spindle 20 insulated from and rotative through the frame I0' of the clock and projecting i'rom the face side of the clock and from the back side. The hand I6 is mounted upon the face side oi the spindle 28. The knob I8 is mounted on the back side of the spindle. A rod 2l slidably engages through the spindle Ztl and projects from the back side end. A lug 22 is slidable upon the said spindle 20 and is connected through a slot 23 in the spindle with the said rod 2l. An insolated gear 24 is rotative on the spindle 20 and has a hub por tion 25 with a cam cutout 26 cooperative with the said lug 22 to permit the gear to slide on the spindle when the cutout and lug are in line.

A resilient means 2`I is provided for urging the gear 24 to slide towards. the lug 22 when the lug and cutout are in line. A stationary contact 28, and a Contact 29 mounted upon the gear 24 are adapted to indirectly coact when the gearA 24 slides as before mentioned. These contacts are arranged in a circuit 38. A head 3I is mounted on the extended end of the rod 2| and is engaged by a releasable means mounted on the knob I8 to hold the rod 2| fixed in said spindle until the gear slides, and then by impact to release the rod whereby the lug 22 then becomes inoperative and engages the cutout permitting the gear 24 to slide thereto and so indirectly cause the coaction between the contacts 28 and 29.

The spindle is rotative through insulation bushings 33 and 34 mounted on the frame I0 of the clock. The knob i8 preferably should be constructed of insulation material. The gear 24 is in mesh with a pinion 35 of insulation material. This pinion is connected with a train of gears 36 connected with the time mechanism of the clock. Thus the gear 24 is rotated by the mechanism of the clock, though insulated from it. The lug 22 has a hub portion 22a which is coaxial on the rod 28 and ra projecting portion 22h. It is this projecting portion that is capable of engaging in the cam cutout 26 (see particularly Fig. 3). The resilient means 21 consists of a spring coaxial upon the spindle 28 and acting between the insulating bushing 33 and the gear 24.

The stationary contact 2B is mounted on an insulation plate 39 which in turn is mounted upon the frame I0 of the clock. The contact 29 is of annular form and mounted concentric with the spindle 2li on the gear 24. A conductor finger 40 engages this contact 29 ,and is mounted upon a terminal 4| which is connected in the circuit 30. The releasable means 32 comprises a at spring attached at one end upon the knob I8 and extending around the head 3| and terminating in an end engaging a grooved side of the head. This spring 32 is capable of holding the lug 22 stationary relative to the spindle 2|) until it is disconnected due to shock when the gear 24 suddenly slides on the spindle 20 (see Fig. 11). There are several pins 42 projecting from one face of the gear 24 and adapted to engage the Contact 28 when the gear 24 is permitted to slide.

The operation of the on switch is as follows:

The knob I8 may be turned manually to turn the spindle 2|! and the hand I6 to a desired position upon the dial I4. For example, the handle may turn to 8 oclock. Since the lug 22 extends through the slot 23 and is connected with the rod 2| it will turn along with the spindle, and so will the rod. The clock mechanism is continuously turning the gear 24 and when the pre-determined time is reached the cutout 26 reaches the lug portion 22b and the spring 2l' snaps the gear 24 forwards as permitted by the inter-engagement of the cutout 26 and the lug. The impact of the gear 24 striking the lug 22 is suilicient to release the head 3| from the holding means 32. The clock mechanism continues to operate and soon the cutout 2S of the gear 24 rides out from the lug 22h, but it is not moved rearwards to break the connection between the pins 42 and the contact 28 because now the lug 22 is no longer held in its xed position but is free, as the rod 2| is free. In order to re-set the time switch it is necessary that the head 3| be manually pulled outwards and the holding means 32 be allowed to engage the periphery of the head and hold it in the extended position.

The off switch is substantially identical to the construction of the on switch but is so arranged that initially the circuit is closed, and at a predetermined time the circuit is open. According to this form of the invention there is a switch spindle 59 insulated from and rotative through the frame ID and projecting from the face side of the clock and from the back side of the clock. The hand I'I is attached on the face side of the support and indicates on the dial |5. The knob I9 is attached upon the back side of the spindle. A rod 5I is slldable through the spindle 5U and projects from the back side. A plug 52 is slidable on the spindle 5i) and is connected through a slot 43 in the spindle with the rod 5|.

An insulated gear 54 is rotative on the spindle 50 and has a hub portion 55 with a cam cutout 56 cooperative with the lug 52 to permit the gear to slide on the spindle when the cutout and lug are in line. A resilient means in the form of a spring 51 is arranged on the spindle 50 and acts between the insulation plate 39 and the gear 54 to urge the gear against the lug 52. There is a stationary contact 58 and. a contact 59 on the gear 54. These contacts are adapted to coact when the gears slide. They are associated with a circuit 6l).

A head 8| is mounted on the extended end of the rod 5|. A releasable means 62 coacts with the said head 6| to hold the rod fixed on said spindle until the gear slides, and then by impact releasing said rod whereby said lug then becomes inoperative to control the gear and indirectly the said circuit. The gear 54 is provided with several pins 63 which normally engage the contact 58. The spring 51 is urging the gear 54 away from the contact 58 but is restrained by the lug 52 until the cutout 55 is reached, and then the gear 54 slides breaking the circuit between the pins 63 and the contact 58. The impact of the gear striking the lug 52 moves the lug and the rod 5| and frees the head 6| from the holding means 62. The circuit now remains open even though the gear 54 rotates so that the lug 52 is out from the cutout 56.

While I have illustrated and described the preerred embodiments of my invention, it is to be understood that I do not limit myself to the precise constructions herein disclosed and the right is reserved to all changes and modiiications coming within the scope of the invention as dened in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent, is:

l. In combination witha clock, a switch spindle insulated from and rotative through the frame of said clock and projecting from the face side of the clock and from the back side, a. knob on the back side of said spindle by which it may be manually adjusted, a rod slidable through said spindle and projecting from the back side end, a lug slidable on said spindle and connected through a slot in said spindle with said rod, an insulated gear rotative on said spindle and having a hub withl a cam cutout cooperative with said lug to permit the gear to slide on said spindle when the cutout and lug are in line, resilient means for urging said gear to slide when said lug and cutout are in line to operate a circuit, a head on the extended end of said rod, and releasable means coacting with said head to hold the rod in said spindle until the gear slides and then by impact releasing said rod whereby said lug becomes inoperative to control said gear and so indirectly said circuit.

2. In combination with a clock, a switch spindle insulated from and rotative through the frame of said clock and projecting from the face side of the clock and from the back side, a knob on the back side of said spindle by which it may be manually adjusted, a rod slidable throughl said spindle and projecting from the back side end, a lug slidable on said spindle and connected through a slot in said spindle with said rod, an insulated gear rotative on said spindle and having a hub with a cam cutout cooperative with said lug to permit the gear to slide on said spindle when the cutout and lug are in line, resilient means for urging said gear to slide when said lug and cutout are in line to operate a circuit, a head on the extended end of said rod, and releasable means coacting with said head to hold the rod in said spindle until the gear slides and then by impact releasing said rod whereby said lug becomes inoperative to control said gear and so indirectly said circuit, said releasable means comprising a spring mounted on said knob and extended annularly around said head and engaging in a groove in the side of the head.

ADRIAN MARTIN. 

